Folding table or seat



(No'ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. B. GORSER.

FOLDING TABLE 0R SEAT.

No. 597,604. Patented Ja'n. 18, 1898.

will! Bvemr 51%, B C0719 er I zrzimm of/WW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'J. B. OORSER. FOLDING TABLE OR SEAT.

No. 597,604. Patented Jan. 18, 1898.

ifivenaE-r gwesr MW W.

To a whom it may concern:

turns STATES ATENT @rricn.

JOHN B. CORSER, OF ALLENTO'WN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TABLE OR SEAT.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,604, dated January 18, 1898.

Application filed July 26, 1897. Serial No. 646,988. (No model.)

Be it known that I, J OHN B. Consna, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables or Seats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to tables, chairs, and the like of that class having folding legs; and it is my object to simplify the construction of such articles and to provide for the folding of the legs quickly by a single movement and without necessitating a complicated arrangement of the parts.

The invention also includes a form of folding seat adapted for use in connection with a type-writer stand or the'stand of a sewingmachine, or in a like situation.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention as applied to tables in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Fig. 1 showing a side elevation of. the table with the legs in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a section through the't-able, showing one end in elevation, this being a view from the inside. Fig. 3 is a partial bottom view of the table, showing one of the guides. Fig. 4. is a section of a stool or seat adapted for use in connection with a desk or table. Fig. 5 is a front view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the legs in folded position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the table A is of ordinary construction and may be of any convenient size or type. It is provided with legs, which may be of any ordinary or ornamental configuration, and they are pivoted to cross-pieces a, these cross-pieces being secured to the table. The legs at each end are preferably joined together, so as to add to the stability of the construction, by braces h. The legs 13 are adapted to fold inwardly, the hinges being such as to provide for this action, and in order to effect this folding action I arrange a bar C, extending longitudinally of the table and pivotally connected to each cross-bar of the table at the points 0. This bar has its ends turned out at approximately right angles with the body of the bar, as shown at Z), the extremities of the bent ends being bent over to form a hook or loop (1, and these hooks or loops are adapted to engage a bent rail D, arranged at each end and secured to the inner face of the folding-leg frame. This rail I preferably make of round metal, and it constitutes a cam track, along which the hooks or loops (Z of the extensions h slide, and by reason of the peculiar bend of the rail or track the turning action of the bar C will be communicated to the rails and have the effect in one movement of the bar G to fold inwardly the legs and in the other movement to throw the legs outward. The shape of these cam tracks or rails is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. One end of the rail e is secured to one side of the frame, and the rail is bent, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 3, into approximately U shape from the point of its support, and from the extremity of the U is bent downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the same time outwardly, as in Fig. 3, and thence inwardly, where the end is secured to the legframe. When the table is in normal posit-ion, the bar C is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with its angular extension Z) vertical, the hooks of the extension engaging the extreme lower ends of the cam track or rail D, and it will be seen that as the extensions Z) are rigid with the main bar they prevent the folding of the legs and offer an obstruction to this action. A handle f is either secured to one of the extensions Z2, projecting at one end in a position to be readily grasped by the hand, or, as shown in Fig. 1, the extension Z) may have its end lengthened, and after embracing the cam-track, by means of a loop (Z, this end may be projected to one side to form a handle. In order to close or fold the legs, the handle is grasped and forced to one side, which turns the bar 0 upon its pivots, and as the ends of the extension I) slide over the rails D the effect is to simultaneously draw in the legs, while the looped ends of the extension I) rest in the U-shaped bends g. If desired, the table may be locked in its folded position in any suitable manner.

In Figs. 4: and 5 I have shown a modification of the invention adapted to be secured to a table, desk, or stand, and when not in use to be folded beneath the table or stand, the legs being folded inwardly at the same time. are hinged in the same way, and the hinged frame is provided with loops D, which serve In this form of the invention the legs as cams to force open the legs by means of angular extensions 1) on the center bar 0, this bar being pivotally connected to the table and being adapted to be turned to throw out the legs substantially as in the form previously described. In the present form, however, I have shown a spring I having its ends working in eyes it, projecting from one side of each of the leg-frames, while the loop of the spring is securely fastened to the under side of the table, the projecting ends, which engage the eyes h, being bent downwardly and outwardly to give the spring action. Thus when the bar 0 is turned to throw out the legs this action is against the tension of the spring, and when the bar is given a quarter-turn to remove the extensions 1) from engagement with the loops D the springs assert their force and fold the legs. I do not wish to limit myself, however, to the spring action in one direction, as I mayuse the positive action in both directions, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and .3, or I may make the action positive in one direction and a spring'action in the opposite direction.

In order to fold the legs and at the same time provide for the movement of the stool or seat beneath the desk out of the way when not in use, I connect the pivot-bar O with a lever E, this lever being connected to the bar 0 so as to operate the same in the movement of the lever. The opposite end of the lever E is adjustably and removably connected to a socket G, pivoted to the desk or stand at e. The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4, and when it is desired to fold the seat beneath the desk the seat is grasped by the hands, given a quarter-turn, so that the upper face of the seat assumes a vertical position, and in this position of the parts the seat is pushed beneath the desk or stand. In the first quarter-turn the legs are folded, and when pushed beneath the desk the lever E and its support holds it in its folded position. lVhen required for use, it is simply withdrawn, first swinging outward on the pivot e, and then as the lever E operates the rod 0 this rod is turned and the extensions b, bearing upon the cam-loops (1, force open the legs against the pressure of the spring and hold them in this position. As shown in Fig. 5, the bar 0 and the operating parts I) are slightly modified from the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and I have provided this construction in order that when the bar 0 is given a quarter-turn the V- shaped extension I) will fold against the under part of the table and be out of the way of the loops D when the legs are folded inward.

The connection between the lever E and socket G, I preferably make a sliding one, so as to permit an extension of the connection when the seat is drawn out, and when pushed in the end of the lever E slides to the bottom of the socket G. I may dispense with the cross-pieces a and hinge the leg-frames directly to the under side of the table, if de' sired.

I claim-- 1. A folding table or seat comprising a top and legs arranged in pairs hinged upon horizontal axes, a pivoted bar having lateral extensions, and a cam track or rail carried by each pair of legs adapted to be engaged by one of said extensions to turn said legs about said axis, substantially as described.

2. A folding table or seat comprising a top and hinged legs arranged in pairs, a camtrack carried by each pair of legs and a device carried by an unmovable support engaging said cam-track adapted to operate said legs, substantially as described.

3. A folding table or seat comprising a top and hinged legs arranged in pairs, a bar pivoted toa stationary support having lateral extensions, a cam-track carried by each pair of legs permanently engaged by one of said extensions whereby when said bar is turned said legs will be moved about a horizontal axis, substantially as described.

4. A folding table or seat comprising a top and hinged legs, a turning-bar having extensions, a rail or track carried by each pair of legs adapted to be engaged by the extensions to turn the legs upon a horizontal axis and a spring for returning the parts, substantially as described.

5. A folding table or seat comprising a top and hinged legs, aturning-bar having extensions, a rail or track carried by each pair of legs engaged by the extensions to turn the legs and means for operating the turning-bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. CORSER.

Witnesses:

EARLE B. DOUGLASS, GEO. FRY. 

